Wadhurst via Bewl Water Circular walk

This walk follows the Sussex Border path to Bewl Water, then follows its banks back to Wadhurst for tea. Gentle gradients but never flat.

Sussex border path approaching Cousley Wood
Sussex border path approaching Cousley Wood

May-16 • quitenearmike on Flickr

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Bewl Water Reservoir Wadhurst via Bewl Water walk
Bewl Water Reservoir

Wadhurst via Bewl Water walk

Jun-06 • Saturdaywalker on Flickr

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Bewl Water Reservoir Wadhurst via Bewl Water walk
Bewl Water Reservoir

Wadhurst via Bewl Water walk

Jun-18 • Saturdaywalker on Flickr

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Bewl Water Wadhurst via Bewl Water walk
Bewl Water

Wadhurst via Bewl Water walk

Nov-19 • Saturdaywalker on Flickr

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Circular Gap 2 Leafy lane in autumn. Wadhurst short circular
Circular Gap 2

Leafy lane in autumn. Wadhurst short circular

Nov-07 • moontiger on Flickr

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Ayers Rock...... ....for bugs. Dead stump, Wadhurst short circular
Ayers Rock......

....for bugs. Dead stump, Wadhurst short circular

Nov-07 • moontiger on Flickr

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Roadside Tree Wadhurst short circular
Roadside Tree

Wadhurst short circular

Nov-07 • moontiger on Flickr

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Length

Main walk: 17km (10.6 miles)

Short walk: 12.9km (8 miles)

Long walk: 19.6km (12.2 miles)

Figure of eight walk: 17.6km (10.9 miles) or 20.3km (12.6 miles)

All walks 1km (0.6 miles) shorter with main road ending, and 3.2km (2 miles) shorter if you get a bus from Wadhurst village.

Toughness

5 out of 10

OS Maps Explorer 136, Landranger 188
Features

The area around Wadhurst is one of the prettiest parts of the Weald – a place of hidden valleys, ancient woods, and quaint old farms which feel far away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. This walk gives you a perfect introduction to it. Starting at Wadhurst station, it follows the Sussex Border Path to lunch at a pub in Cousley Wood (reportedly no longer serving food - check before relying on it), and then descends with fine panoramic views to Bewl Water Reservoir, whose shore is open and unfenced unlike many other reservoirs, and which makes a fine spot to while away some time on a sunny day.

You then have a choice of whether you do a shorter or longer exploration of the shores of the reservoir (see Walk Options below) before climbing up to the hilltop village of Wadhurst, a classic Wealden settlement, where you can have tea in one of its cafes (Monday to Saturday), or in one of its two pubs.

After tea you can choose between a direct route to the station down the main road (but with a pavement all the way), or a quiet walk along the back lanes. It is 3.2km (2 miles) from Wadhurst to the station via the back lanes and it is probably best to allow at least an hour for this. For the shorter 2.2km (1.4 miles) by the main road, allow 40 minutes.

Walk Options
  • A direct path from the reservoir up to Wadhurst village - a pleasant and gentle climb - reduces the distance from lunch to just 4.5km (2.8 miles) from lunch to tea and makes a short walk of 12.9km (8 miles).
  • For an even fuller exploration of Bewl Water, the long walk takes you out around a beautiful promontary sticking out into the lake. It then follows the main walk's hilly route into Wadhurst. This walk is 19.6km (12.2 miles) long and it is 11.1km (6.9 miles) from lunch to tea.
  • You can also combine part of this walk with the short option (option a) of the Wadhurst Circular walk (Book 2 walk 18) on this website to create a Figure of eight walk (ie having both lunch and tea in Wadhurst) offering a comprehensive introduction to the different types of scenery around the village. This walk is 7km (4.3 miles) in the morning and 7.4km (4.6 miles) from lunch to tea, which with a further 3.2km (2 miles) to the station gives a total walk length of 17.6km (10.9 miles). Or if you use the long walk option, it is 10.1km (6.3 miles) from lunch to tea, giving a total walk length of 20.3km (12.6 miles).

  • Transport

    The walk starts and ends at Wadhurst station on the Hastings Line, served by trains from Charing Cross via London Bridge. Take the train nearest to 10.10am from London to get to lunch in time.

    On Mondays to Saturdays you can shorten any of the walks by 3.2km (2 miles) by taking the 254 bus from Wadhurst village (the stop just outside the Greyhound pub, on the same side of the road) to Wadhurst station. Buses go roughly on the hour until 6pm. If you are heading for London it may make sense to stay on the bus to Tunbridge Wells station (about 20 minutes after Wadhurst) which has a much more frequent train service.

    Lunch

    The Old Vine, Cousley Wood (01892 784467 or 783666), 5.3km (3.3 miles) into the main, short and long walks is the only lunch option. Unfortunately there are reports that this pub is no longer serving food - check before relying on it.

    Tea

    Tea options are all in Wadhurst, which is 13.8 (8.6 miles) into the main walk, 9.8km (6.1 miles) into the short walk and 16.4km (10.2 miles) into the long walk. The best place currently seems to be the Artful Grocers, a food store with a cafe attached, which is open till 5pm Monday to Saturday. The Piccolo cafe nearby keeps the same hours. Otherwise the Jempsons supermarket has a tea and coffee machine and good selection of cakes (you could take them to the churchyard, where there is a bench), while the One Shop convenience store has a Costa Coffee machine. Both shops are open till 10pm Monday to Saturday.

    Of Wadhurst's two pubs, the Greyhound, the first you come to, is currently (November 2023) closed and to let, but 100 metres up the road the White Hart has been revamped and is now quite smart, serving tea in pots.

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    National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

    Version

    Sep-24 Peter

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    Walk Directions

    Full directions for this walk are in a PDF file (link above) which you can print, or download on to a Kindle, tablet, or smartphone.

    This is just the introduction. This walk's detailed directions are in a PDF available from wwww.walkingclub.org.uk